[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” module_class=”fw_header” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”DEC 8, 2025 statement\u00a0” module_class=”fw_header” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”–et_global_heading_font|600||on|||||” title_font_size=”46px” title_line_height=”0em” background_image=”https:\/\/chiefssteeringcommittee.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pexels-lureofadventure-19013057.png” max_width=”100%” module_alignment=”left” min_height=”200px” max_height=”1000px” custom_margin=”12px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” custom_css_free_form=”.fw_header{|| || padding:125px 0 10px 0 !important;||}||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”32px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”10px||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Chiefs Steering Committee meet with Indigenous Affairs Ministers on Federal Water Discussions Following Alberta-Canada MOU ” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_align=”left” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Roboto|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#124f77″ text_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||50px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Following last week\u2019s dialogue with Minister Rebecca Alty, Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, and Minister Mandy Gull-Masty, Indigenous Services Canada, the Chiefs Steering Committee (CSC) on Technical Services remains cautiously optimistic that Canada will support water protection under Treaty.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The dialogue at the Treaty Bilateral Table on Water and Related Infrastructure\u2014the first with the two new Indigenous portfolio Ministers\u2014marks a strong commitment toward advancing and truly addressing our urgent water concerns\u00a0and infrastructure\u00a0needs. The meeting was a vital step in fostering a constructive partnership guided by respect, collaboration\u00a0and mutual understanding,\u00a0as expected by our Peoples under the Treaties.\u00a0
Important discussions were raised on the recent Alberta-Canada MOU, particularly regarding the potential for a major project in the Treaty territories. The CSC is concerned that Alberta is ignoring expectations for meaningful consultation on current water legislation,\u00a0such as Bill 7 –\u00a0Alberta Water Amendment Act. Chiefs expressed deep concern about Alberta’s continued pursuit of legislative mechanisms that drive a wedge in federal-provincial politics and ignore our Inherent and Treaty rights in our territories. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Earlier in the week, Chiefs became aware that new federal water legislation is pending and signaled to the Indigenous portfolio Ministers that Alberta has indicated it is not in favor of a federal water bill. Chiefs affirmed that any federal water legislation will need to address Alberta’s reluctance on the issue.<\/p>\n
The CSC welcomes the Ministers\u2019 recognition of the Table that intends to discuss our Inherent jurisdiction in water protection, water usage, and water management within our lands and territories.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We are particularly pleased with:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We leave this meeting with renewed, cautious optimism and a shared vision for a future where clean water is a reality for every Treaty First Nation. The CSC holds firm to our work, our responsibilities and is prepared to take decisive action to enforce our Treaty-protected rights.\u00a0<\/p>\n Media Contact: Gillian Edwards, 587-216-8581<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Following last week\u2019s dialogue with Minister Rebecca Alty, Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, and Minister Mandy Gull-Masty, Indigenous Services Canada, the Chiefs Steering Committee (CSC) on Technical Services remains […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-25681","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chiefssteeringcommittee.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25681","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chiefssteeringcommittee.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chiefssteeringcommittee.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chiefssteeringcommittee.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chiefssteeringcommittee.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25681"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/chiefssteeringcommittee.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25681\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25690,"href":"https:\/\/chiefssteeringcommittee.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25681\/revisions\/25690"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chiefssteeringcommittee.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25681"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n